Where expertise meets innovation.
Lightstone operates across all sectors of the real estate industry. As an investor, developer, lender, operator, and owner, we bring a profound understanding of what it takes to makes an investment successful. This is what differentiates us, allowing us to see opportunities that others don’t recognize and to convert those opportunities into above-market returns.
Capabilities & Expertise
- Investment
- Development
- Debt
- Asset Management
- Real Estate Investment Trusts
- Reinsurance
- Venture Capital
Investment
Lightstone has a long history and proven track record of identifying and investing in real estate across the residential, hospitality, and commercial sectors. With an approach rooted deep in experience and intuition, our process results in full value-creation transformation of real estate assets.
Learn MoreDevelopment
With extensive expertise in all sectors of development, Lightstone is uniquely equipped to assess each project with vision and creativity, quickly determining the highest and best use. We have an unmatched reputation for delivering innovative design on time and on budget — maximizing returns and minimizing risk.
LEARN MORELightstone Capital
Lightstone Capital’s success is driven by working hand-in-hand with sponsors to execute swiftly on complex, time-sensitive transactions. Our fully integrated platform leverages our broad experience and deep real estate investment knowledge to provide solutions for borrowers with real estate opportunities that fall outside the realm of traditional and/or larger institutional lenders.
LEARN MOREAsset Management
Our in-house asset management team employs a dynamic, hands-on approach, working with every investment on a day-to-day basis. This includes validating a transaction’s investment thesis, developing and implementing a sound operating strategy, overseeing capital improvement projects, and continually examining disposition strategies to maximize returns.
Real Estate Investment Trusts
Since 2005, Lightstone has acted as a fiduciary of investor capital through its real estate investment trust (REIT) platform. The platform, which offers the opportunity to invest in a diversified portfolio of real estate, comprises five non-traded REITs with a total AUM of $1.8 billion.
LEARN MOREConverge RE
Converge RE is a Class 5 Life and Annuity reinsurer and a founding member of the Puerto Rico International Insurance Association. Converge RE is an A- rated reinsurance company that provides reinsurance to U.S. life and annuity insurers seeking improved financial efficiency through the reallocation of capital.
LEARN MORELightstone Ventures
Lightstone Ventures is dedicated to investing in early-stage companies across the country that are reshaping real estate, construction, insurance, and finance. We focus on Seed to Series A rounds with the intention to follow great companies through later stages of funding.
LEARN MOREMeet Our Best-In-Class Team
Together, we form a team of over 590 employees with a shared commitment to Lightstone’s continued growth and leadership.
Lightstone’s team of seasoned executives brings a wide range of experience, from all aspects of the real estate investment and development industries. As one of the most innovative firms in the business, Lightstone has attracted top talent in acquisitions, development, construction, management, finance, investment, accounting, marketing, and law.
CLICK THE IMAGES BELOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH MEMBER OF OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM.
David Lichtenstein,
Founder, Chairman and CEO
Founder, Chairman and CEO
David Lichtenstein is Chairman and CEO of Lightstone, which he founded in 1988. In addition to chairing the Board of Directors, he provides strategic oversight for all aspects of the acquisition, financing, and management of the Company’s diverse portfolio of multifamily, hospitality, industrial and commercial properties. Mr. Lichtenstein serves on the Board of Governors of the Real Estate Board of New York, and is a Member of both The Economic Club of New York and the Real Estate Roundtable. He is a Trustee of The Touro College and University System and sits on the Board Supervisory Committee for The New York Medical College.
Mr. Lichtenstein previously served on the NYC Economic Development Corporation’s Board of Directors, appointed by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. He was also Co-Chair of the Real Estate Roundtable’s Real Estate Capital Policy Advisory Committee and a Trustee of the Citizens Budget Commission. He was formerly a member of the Brookings Institution’s Economic Studies Council.
Mitchell C. Hochberg,
President
President
Mitchell C. Hochberg is President of Lightstone. He has more than 30 years of experience in every facet of real estate development and operations, including the residential, hospitality, commercial, gaming, and mixed-use sectors. He founded and for 20 years served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum Communities, a premier residential developer in the northeastern United States. Thereafter, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Ian Schrager Company, a developer and manager of innovative luxury hotels and residential projects in the United States. For 10 years until its sale to LVMH in 2019, Mr. Hochberg served on the Board of Directors of Belmond (NYSE: BEL; formerly Orient-Express Hotels Ltd.), as Chairman of the Investment Committee, and member of the Audit and Nominating and Governance Committees.
He is Chairman of the Board of Directors of WMC Health; a $2.2 billion, 9 hospital, regional healthcare network including trauma centers, community hospitals, and the region’s only children’s hospital, spanning 6,200 square miles with a workforce of 13,000 people. Mr. Hochberg is an Attorney at Law and a Certified Public Accountant. He received his law degree as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar from Columbia University School of Law. He graduated magna cum laude from New York University College of Business and Public Administration with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and finance.
Joseph E. Teichman
Executive Vice President & General Counsel
Joseph E. Teichman,
Executive Vice President & General Counsel
Executive Vice President & General Counsel
Joseph E. Teichman is Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Lightstone, where he is responsible for overseeing and managing the legal affairs of the company and its operating entities. Mr. Teichman also contributes to the company’s overall strategy as a member of the company’s executive management team. Prior to joining Lightstone in 2007, Mr. Teichman practiced law at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, in New York, focusing on corporate finance with an emphasis on leveraged transactions. Mr. Teichman holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a Bachelor’s degree from Beth Medrash Govoha. He is licensed to practice law in New York and New Jersey. Mr. Teichman is also a member of the Board of Directors of Yeshiva Orchos Chaim, Lakewood, NJ and was appointed to the Ocean County College Board of Trustees in January 2013.
Seth D. Molod
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Seth D. Molod,
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Seth D. Molod is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Lightstone, where he is responsible for overseeing and managing all corporate finance operations. Mr. Molod also serves as CFO of five public non-traded REITS and a director of Lightstone’s entity which has issued bonds listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Prior to joining Lightstone, he served as Chair, Real Estate Services and Executive Committee member at Berdon LLP, a leading real estate accounting and consulting firm. Mr. Molod brings over 25 years of extensive experience advising some of the nation’s most prominent real estate owners, developers, managers, and investors in both commercial and residential projects. He has advised privately held real estate companies as well as institutional investors, REITs, and other public companies. Mr. Molod received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from Muhlenberg College. He is licensed as a certified public accountant in New Jersey and in New York.
Moshe Lichtenstein
Chief Investment Officer, Converge US and Chief Credit Officer, Lightstone
Moshe Lichtenstein,
Chief Investment Officer, Converge US and Chief Credit Officer, Lightstone
Chief Investment Officer, Converge US and Chief Credit Officer, Lightstone
Moshe Lichtenstein is a senior member of the Lightstone investment team and Chief Investment Officer of Converge US. Mr. Lichtenstein is responsible for investment strategy and oversees the sub-managers for Converge. For Lightstone, he oversees a team of investment professionals who evaluate on a daily basis potential investments in all sectors of real estate including residential, commercial, retail and industrial. Mr. Lichtenstein has been a key member of Lightstone’s executive management team and is a member of the investment, credit and compliance committees. Mr. Lichtenstein sits on the Board of Trustees of New York Medical College, and is the chair of its audit committee.
Kara Morett
Executive Vice President, Human Resources
Kara Morett,
Executive Vice President, Human Resources
Executive Vice President, Human Resources
Kara Morett is Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Lightstone. She is an advisor to executive leadership on the development and implementation of strategic HR initiatives, and oversees all aspects of human capital management for the firm and its subsidiaries. Mrs. Morett has over 30 years of diverse experience as an HR leader developing human capital, strong partnerships, and high-performing teams helping to drive growth at global organizations. Prior to joining Lightstone, she was Senior Director of Human Resources at Kroll, where she led HR for their Advisory Practice. Mrs. Morett holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration as well as an Advanced Certificate in Strategic Human Resources from Cornell University. She was awarded her Strategic Professional Human Resource (SPHR) certification in 2007, her SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) in 2015, and is a longstanding member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Les Fagen
Senior Advisor
Les Fagen,
Senior Advisor
Senior Advisor
Les Fagen is a Senior Advisor for Lightstone. In the past, Les was a senior partner in the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. During this time, he became chair of the firm's litigation department and a member of the firm's management committee. Starting with Lightstone in 2021 as a consultant, Mr. Fagen has experienced more than 40 years in the field of business and the law and in particular in the field of investment and real estate. He is a board member, advisor, and consultant for profit, not-for-profits, and foundations. Additionally, he serves as fiduciary for trusts and estates. Mr. Fagen is on the adjunct faculties of Columbia Law School and Brooklyn Law School. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and member a of the Board of Visitors of Columbia Law School. He is a graduate of Yale College and Columbia Law School.
Craig Buck
Chief Executive Officer, Converge US
Craig Buck,
Chief Executive Officer, Converge US
Chief Executive Officer, Converge US
Craig Buck is the Chief Executive Officer of Converge US and is responsible for overseeing the entire operation of Converge’s life and annuity reinsurance platform. Mr. Buck joined Lightstone in 2024, after previously serving as the Managing Principal of the Insurance and Actuarial Advisory Services practice of Ernst & Young LLP’s Financial Services Organization. Before joining Ernst & Young LLP, he held a number of leadership roles at a major international insurance and retirement company and was the Americas Life Insurance Practice Leader and the North American Actuarial Practice Leader of Towers Watson, Inc. and Watson Wyatt Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. respectively. Mr. Buck is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
Sanford Blumenthal
Senior Vice President, Investments
Sanford Blumenthal,
Senior Vice President, Investments
Senior Vice President, Investments
Sanford Blumenthal has been active in the fields of commercial real estate and investment finance for over 15 years. At Lightstone, Sanford has closed over $3 billion of completed acquisitions, developments, and financings. Mr. Blumenthal is responsible for sourcing, underwriting, deal structuring, and due diligence across the residential, hospitality, office, industrial, retail, and land sectors. During his tenure at Lightstone, Sanford has been instrumental in the strategic development of lifestyle-oriented hotels in major gateway markets, with a primary focus on the Moxy brand. Sanford specializes in opportunistic deals with intricate capital structures. Prior to joining the Lightstone team, Sanford worked at Madden Real Estate Ventures where he focused on residential and hospitality acquisitions and developments as well as asset management for properties located throughout the United States. While at Madden, Mr. Blumenthal acquired 17 hotels valued at over $130 million. Mr. Blumenthal began his career at Vornado Realty Trust in the Acquisitions and Capital Markets group where he was responsible for asset and portfolio underwriting, corporate valuation and capital markets transactions. Sanford graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations.
Akiva Elazary
First Vice President, Investments and Asset Management
Akiva Elazary,
First Vice President, Investments and Asset Management
First Vice President, Investments and Asset Management
Akiva Elazary is First Vice President of Investments and Asset Management for Lightstone. Mr. Elazary is responsible for overseeing the asset management and strategy execution for Lightstone’s industrial and retail portfolio. Mr. Elazary, who joined the company in 2003, has played an integral role in the acquisition, disposition, and financing of over $700 million of assets. Mr. Elazary holds a Bachelor’s degree from Beth Medrash Govoha and is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.
William G. Ellis
Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer
William G. Ellis,
Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer
Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer
William G. Ellis is Senior Vice President & Chief Accounting Officer of Lightstone. Mr. Ellis oversees and manages the company’s accounting and financial reporting functions. Prior to joining Lightstone in 2010, Mr. Ellis served in various senior level roles, including Vice President & Chief Accounting Officer, Senior Vice President of Operations, and Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer at Prime Retail, a Baltimore-based owner and operator of a nationwide portfolio of upscale outlet centers. Prime Retail was formerly owned by Lightstone from 2003 through 2010. Additionally, Mr. Ellis previously held positions at Alexander & Alexander Services, MNC Financial, and Ernst & Young. Mr. Ellis has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from Loyola University and is licensed as a certified public accountant in Maryland.
Ariel Feldhamer
Senior Vice President, Asset Management & Investments
Ariel Feldhamer,
Senior Vice President, Asset Management & Investments
Senior Vice President, Asset Management & Investments
Ariel Feldhamer is Senior Vice President of Asset Management and Investments for Lightstone, and President of Beacon Management, the property management subsidiary of Lightstone. Mr. Feldhamer is responsible for the operations and asset management of more than 15,000 multifamily units, valued in excess of $2 billion, including oversight of all facets of property operations, capital allocations, and development and execution of ownership strategy for the portfolio. Additionally, Mr. Feldhamer plays a lead role in the acquisition, disposition, and financing of multifamily assets for Lightstone and has been instrumental in completing over $2 billion in transactions since joining the company in 2005. Mr. Feldhamer holds both a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree from Beth Medrash Govoha.
Mark Green
Senior Vice President, Construction
Mark Green,
Senior Vice President, Construction
Senior Vice President, Construction
Mark Green is the Senior Vice President of Construction at Lightstone, where he oversees the construction of all Hospitality and Residential development projects. Prior to joining Lightstone, Mr. Green served as Director of Construction at the Brodsky Organization in charge of the construction of luxury condominiums and apartments. Earlier in his career, Mr. Green was a Vice President at Tarragon Development Corporation and prior to that spent nearly nine years at Lendlease, focusing on large residential and commercial projects. Mr. Green is a graduate of the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Science Degree.
Lauren Levin
Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer
Lauren Levin,
Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer
Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer
Lauren Levin is Chief Marketing Officer at Lightstone, overseeing marketing and public relations initiatives across Lightstone’s portfolio of Moxy Hotels, as well as its real estate and corporate platform. Ms. Levin joined Lightstone in September 2016, as Senior Vice President for Brand Marketing and Public Relations for Lightstone's Moxy Hotels, and was promoted to CMO in January 2019. Ms. Levin is an award-winning hospitality marketing and branding executive, whose innovative and creative approach has led to numerous awards for Lightstone’s Moxy Hotels. She previously guided global marketing strategies at Google, Starwood Hotels, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, & sbe. The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) named Ms. Levin as one of “The HSMAI Top 25: Extraordinary Minds in Hospitality Sales, Marketing, Revenue Optimization,” Ms. Levin is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, where she is a frequent guest lecturer and an executive mentor.
Chris Maciejczak
Senior Vice President, Life Sciences
Chris Maciejczak,
Senior Vice President, Life Sciences
Senior Vice President, Life Sciences
Chris Maciejczak is Senior Vice President of Lightstone’s life sciences portfolio, leading all aspects of the firm’s life sciences platform, from strategic direction and portfolio expansion to development, leasing and tenant management. Mr. Maciejczak brings nearly 20 years of experience in asset management, operations, and development in both the national and Greater Boston life sciences space. Prior to joining Lightstone, Mr. Maciejczak led the life sciences platform at Boston Properties. Mr. Maciejczak is based in Boston and has completed the Building Design & Project Management Program at Northeastern University.
Meir Milgraum
Senior Vice President, Acquisitions
Meir Milgraum,
Senior Vice President, Acquisitions
Senior Vice President, Acquisitions
Meir Milgraum is the Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Development at Lightstone. In this role, he is responsible for all aspects of the acquisition process for all new properties the firm targets. Additionally, he has played a critical role in all the new development undertaken by the firm and has direct responsibility for all pre-development matters related to tenants, zoning, governmental approvals, demolition, etc. Meir is based in the New York City office but has acquired and developed properties across the country. He joined Lightstone in 2011 and has since acquired well over $3 billion worth of real estate in all asset classes including residential, hospitality, and retail. Mr. Milgraum began his career in construction management before moving into the development side of the business. He then served as an Acquisitions Analyst at Triangle Equities, followed by a move to Pink Stone Capital Group where he was the Director of Acquisitions and Development. Mr. Milgraum received a Master of Science in Real Estate Investments and Development from New York University and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Touro College.
Conor Mullen
Vice President, Investments / Managing Director—Southeast Office
Conor Mullen,
Vice President, Investments / Managing Director—Southeast Office
Vice President, Investments / Managing Director—Southeast Office
Conor Mullen is a Vice President of Investments at Lightstone. Additionally, Mr. Mullen is the Managing Director of Lightstone's Southeast office in Charlotte, NC. Mr. Mullen’s primary responsibilities include sourcing, underwriting, structuring, and closing equity and debt investments. He is also responsible for arranging financing for all Lightstone development deals and is a senior decision maker for Lightstone’s current and go-forward capital strategy. Since joining Lightstone seven years ago, Mr. Mullen has predominantly focused on residential and hospitality acquisitions and development, and has experience in all asset types. Mr. Mullen has played an integral role in $700 million of acquisitions. Prior to joining, he was an Analyst at Whitney Capital Company where he did multifamily acquisitions. Mr. Mullen received a Master of Science in Real Estate Development from New York University and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Cornell University.
Robert Munson
Senior Vice President, Industrial Asset Management
Robert Munson,
Senior Vice President, Industrial Asset Management
Senior Vice President, Industrial Asset Management
Robert Munson is the Senior Vice President of Industrial Asset Management. He is responsible for providing strategic direction, oversight and asset management for our industrial portfolio. Mr. Munson brings more than 25 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry to the Lightstone Group. Prior to joining Lightstone he spent more than 15 years primarily focused on industrial real estate at firms like Global Logistics Properties (GLP) and Blackstone’s Link Logistics where he was responsible for asset management, leasing, operations and investment oversight for a portfolio of real estate valued at more than $8 Billion dollars. Annually his team would typically complete more than 300 lease transactions resulting in approximately 8 million square feet of activity.
Jonathan Rabinow
Senior Vice President, Investments & Capital Markets
Jonathan Rabinow,
Senior Vice President, Investments & Capital Markets
Senior Vice President, Investments & Capital Markets
Jonathan Rabinow is Senior Vice President of Investments and Capital Markets at Lightstone. Prior to joining Lightstone, Mr. Rabinow was Managing Director with Argent Ventures. Previously, he served as a Senior Vice President and Head of Investments at RXR Realty where he led a team who invested in over $5 billion of assets. Earlier in his career, Mr. Rabinow served as Vice President at Racebrook Capital, a Warburg Pincus portfolio company specializing in the acquisition of distressed real estate assets. Mr. Rabinow earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Business Administration from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Bryan Ramm
Vice President, Development
Bryan Ramm,
Vice President, Development
Vice President, Development
Bryan Ramm is a Vice President of Development at the Lightstone Group responsible for all aspects of operational oversight of Lightstone’s development platform - managing all stages of a project post land acquisition including entitlement, financing, construction, marketing and sales/leasing. Mr. Ramm brings a wealth of experience in development in the New York market. Prior to joining Lightstone in 2014, Mr. Ramm most recently worked at Zeckendorf Development, a market leader in ultra-luxury condominiums, where he served as the project manager for 520 Park Avenue. Other responsibilities included financial and marketing capacities on 18 Gramercy Park South, 50 United Nations Plaza, and overseeing all new business opportunities. Previous to Zeckendorf, Mr. Ramm spent six years with Tishman Speyer where he was a key member of the development team for the new Yankee Stadium and managed a 1.3M square foot, Class-A commercial property in Rockefeller Center. Mr. Ramm received a Master of Science in Real Estate from Columbia University in 2008 and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics from Brown University where he was also a football letterman.
Eugene Rozovsky
Senior Vice President, Real Estate Debt Strategies
Eugene Rozovsky,
Senior Vice President, Real Estate Debt Strategies
Senior Vice President, Real Estate Debt Strategies
Eugene Rozovsky is Senior Vice President of Real Estate Debt Strategies and is responsible for overseeing and managing Lightstone’s debt platform. Prior to joining Lightstone, Eugene was Vice President of Acquisitions & Asset Management at Madison Realty Capital where he closed over $2 billion of investments across various asset classes and led the team responsible for all debt and equity investments, as well as asset management. Prior to Madison, Eugene worked on the investment team at Hudson Realty Capital, the investment research team at The Blackstone Group, and the M&A advisory team at TM Capital. Eugene received his Bachelor of Science in Finance & International Business from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University and his Master of Science in Real Estate Finance & Investment from New York University.
Charles Simon
Senior Vice President, Asset Management
Charles Simon,
Senior Vice President, Asset Management
Senior Vice President, Asset Management
Charles Simon is Senior Vice President of Hotel Asset Management at Lightstone, where he is responsible for the development and execution of ownership strategy for the REIT hotel portfolio. With over 16 years of principal side hospitality experience, Mr. Simon has represented ownership in nearly all facets of the investment cycle, from acquisitions and turnarounds to major renovations and brand conversions, to financial restructuring and dispositions. Prior to joining Lightstone, Mr. Simon was a Senior Vice President responsible for all hospitality for a subsidiary of Platinum Equity, a top-quartile private equity firm based in Beverly Hills, CA. He has served as a member of Hilton’s owner’s advisory council, as well as a member of industry associations, such as HAMA. Mr. Simon holds a Master of Business Administration from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park and a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Economics from Baruch College.
Emily Steinberg Toraason
Chief of Staff, Vice President
Emily Steinberg Toraason,
Chief of Staff, Vice President
Chief of Staff, Vice President
Emily Steinberg Toraason is Chief of Staff to the President of Lightstone. Ms. Toraason’s primary responsibilities include managing and coordinating all operational and financial activities across Lightstone’s multiple investment platforms. Since joining Lightstone in 2017, Ms. Toraason also served as Project Manager for multiple residential development projects across the Greater New York City Area. Ms. Toraason previously worked at Goldman Sachs, both within the leadership team for the Investment Management Division and in the Office of the General Counsel. Ms. Toraason earned an M.B.A. from Columbia University’s Columbia Business School with honors and a B.A. in Political Economy, cum laude, from Williams College.
Naftalee Zomberg
Senior Vice President, Finance & Treasurer
Naftalee Zomberg,
Senior Vice President, Finance & Treasurer
Senior Vice President, Finance & Treasurer
Naftalee Zomberg is the Senior Vice President and Treasurer of Finance. Naftalee advises executive leadership on key financial matters, including structuring and financing transactions, and developing business processes. Naftalee brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with a variety of real estate, structured products, insurance and debt, and equity investments to the Lightstone team. Prior to joining Lightstone, he served as a Controller for Fortress Investment Group managing publicly and privately traded real estate vehicles with over $30 billion in gross assets from 2014 through 2018. Previously, Naftalee was a senior manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Alternative Investments group for over 11 years, working with hedge and private equity funds, and publicly traded investment advisors. He received his Master of Business Administration from Fordham University and his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Touro College.
Strategic Partnerships
Relationships are a critical component to our success. We are committed to building longstanding partnerships with the top banking, real estate, and financial institutions in the country. The company we keep speaks to Lightstone’s reputation and integrity. See a selection of our interdisciplinary partners below.
Financial Partners
Hospitality Partners
